Paidi O Se – rogue, warrior and one of the all time greats says Pat Spillane

Tributes have poured in from across the globe for Kerry gaelic football legend Paidi O Se.

The eight time All-Ireland winner and former Kingdom boss died suddenly on a heart attack on Saturday.

Just 57, father of three O Se had played cards in his Ventry pub on Friday night and was reported to be ‘in great form’ by friends.

Páidí’s brother Tom revealed, “It was quite sudden, we were not expecting it at all. He had been in good form the night before.

“He got up earlier and was complaining of indigestion - he didn’t know it was his heart.”

Best friend Micheal O Se played cards with Paidi and friends in his Ventry local Quinns on Friday night

Micheal revealed: “He was in terrific health and on his last night he looked better than I have seen him in years.

“He was off the drink and playing cards and drinking tea. He looked 20 years younger.

“I believe he got a pain in his chest and asked his wife Maire for Gaviscon. When she came back with it he was gone.”

President Michael D Higgins led the tributes and said: “He had a reputation that went far beyond his great achievements in sport and far beyond the boundaries of his own county.”

Kerry great Pat Spillane said: “Paidi was a rogue, a warrior, one of the all-time greats.

“He was a rogue in the nicest meaning of the word, he was a character, a legend, the life and soul of every party. He was friends with kings and queens and film stars.

“Páidí was the greatest defender that ever graced Croke Park. He would lay his body on the line for the cause. He will never be surpassed.”

Former team-mate and pal Mickey Ned O’Sullivan told the Sunday Independent that when Paidi was growing up in Ventry he had only one ambition and that was to play for Kerry.

O’Sullivan said: “It was his dream and it came true for him. Paidi marked me in training for 10 years and every bone in my body felt it. He toughened me up, that’s for sure.”

As a player in the great Kerry team, O Se won eight All-Ireland medals and played in 10 finals, conceding just one point from play to a direct opponent.

He also won 11 Munster football championships, four National League titles, four Railway Cups, five All Stars and two County Senior Championships.

Legendary Kerry manager Mick O’Dwyer said: “He was playing for the Kerry minors when I first came across him in the early Seventies. Even back then you could see he was something special.

“Wearing that Kerry jersey meant so much to Paidi. He’d fight to the last for the green and gold. It was his lifelong ambition to represent his county. To go on and win eight All-Ireland medals speaks for itself.”

An online book of condolence has been opened on Paidi’s website www.Paidiose.com.